The antitussive and expectorant mechanism of Platycodon total saponins based on metabonomics / 药学学报

UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS metabonomics technology was used to clarify the metabolic regulation pathways by which Platycodon total saponins (PTS) exert antitussive and expectorant effects in a mouse cough model, in which coughing is induced by concentrated ammonia, and in a phenol red excretion model. After approval by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine (Approval No. JZLLSC-20190235), the mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a positive drug group and a PTS group. Endogenous metabolites in mouse serum were identified by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used for multivariate analysis. Metabolic pathways were analyzed by the Metaboanalyst platform. The results show that PTS can significantly prolong the cough latent period and cough frequency of mice, and significantly increase phenol red excretion. UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS identified 19 metabolites related to cough, and PTS significantly decreased 16 of them; 17 metabolites related to expectoration were identified, and PTS decreased the levels of all. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that linoleic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism were the main pathways involved in serum metabolite changes in this mouse cough model. Linoleic acid metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism and α-linolenic acid metabolism were the main pathways involved in serum metabolite changes in the phenol red excretion model. This study is the first to elucidate the regulation of antitussive and expectorant metabolic pathways and the effect of PTS on these pathways.

Analysis of Influence of Jiangxi Characteristic Processing Technology on Chemical Compositions of Aurantii Fructus Based on UPLC-Q/TOF-MS / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To compare the effects of different processing techniques on the chemical constituents of Aurantii Fructus for screening the dominant decoction pieces. Method:UPLC-Q/TOF-MS was used to detect the chemical constituents of Aurantii Fructus, chromatography separation was achieved on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.7 μm), and gradient elution was performed with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution (A)-0.1% formic acid acetonitrile solution (B) as mobile phase (0-10 min, 5%-35%B; 10-18 min, 35%-75%B; 18-21 min, 75%-100%B; 21-24 min, 100%B; 24-24.1 min, 100%-5%B; 24.1-28 min, 5%B). Data acquisition was carried out in electrospray ionization (ESI) under the positive ion mode, the scanning range was m/z 50-1 200. The chemical constituents in methanol extract of Aurantii Fructus were identified according to reference substance, relative molecular weight, mass spectrometric cleavage rule and literature information. SIMCA-P 13.0 software was used to establish principal component analysis (PCA) model and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model of Aurantii Fructus processed products, PCA score plot, PLS-DA loading plot and variable importance in the protection (VIP) values were obtained to screen the material basis for the main differences before and after processing of Aurantii Fructus. Result:A total of 54 chemical components were identified by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. PCA indicated that there were significant differences among different groups of Aurantii Fructus processed by different methods. A total of 14 chemical components with VIP value >1 were screened by PLS-DA as the main chemical markers for the differences before and after processing, including hesperidin, poncirin, narirutin, etc. The comprehensive weighted score showed that the content of effective components in Aurantii Fructus processed with honey bran was the highest. Conclusion:The contents of chemical constituents in Aurantii Fructus before and after processing are significantly changed. Flavonoids are the most important compounds to distinguish different processed products of Aurantii Fructus. Aurantii Fructus processed with honey bran is the dominant variety.

Identification on triterpenoid saponins of Clematis species by UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap combined with molecular network / 中草药

Objective: To construct molecular network and analyze rapidly the saponins of six species of Clematis plants. Methods: The mass spectral data, acquired with UHPLC-LTQ Orbitrap MS, were uploaded to the GNPS analysis platform to build molecular network, visualized by Cytoscape software. On the other hand, the triterpenoid saponins from six plants were identified on the basis of the fragmentation regularity of the standard and the reported literature. Results: Twenty-five triterpenoid saponins, including 16 hederagenin saponins and nine oleanolic acid-type saponins, were determined from six kinds of plants. The distribution of the triterpenoid saponins in the six kinds of plants were profiled by the pie chart of each node in molecular network. Twenty compounds were found in at least two species of Clematis. Clematichinenoside A and oleanolic acid 3-O-ribopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranoside were the common constituents in five species. Six saponins were distributed in in single species of Clematis. Conclusion: Compared with traditional phytochemical methods, the molecular network technology of UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS can quickly and visually distinguish different triterpenoid saponins in six kinds of plants. There are similarities and differentiates among the triterpenoid saponins in the six kinds of plants, which provides the basis for the substitution of medicinal materials.

Effect of Jiangxi Characteristic Processing Technology on Volatile Components of Cimicifugae Rhizoma / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To analyze the effect of honey bran stir-frying method in Zhang faction and honey chaff stir-frying method in Jianchang faction on the composition and relative content of volatile components in Cimicifugae Rhizoma. Method: The volatile oil in different processed products of Cimicifugae Rhizoma was extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The inlet temperature was 260℃, the transmission line temperature was 250℃, the carrier gas was helium, the flow rate was 1.0 mL·min-1, the split ratio was 10:1, the injection volume was 1 μL. The column temperature was set at 70℃ by programmed heating, rising to 150℃ by 2℃·min-1 and keeping it there for 2 min, rising to 240℃ by 6℃·min-1 and keeping it there for 3 min, rising to 300℃ by 25℃·min-1 and keeping it there for 2 min. The relative content of each component in volatile oil was calculated by peak area normalization method. Result: A total of 73 components were identified from raw products of Cimicifugae Rhizoma, 37 components were identified from honey bran stir-frying products, 93 components were identified from honey chaff stir-frying products, and 71 components were identified from honey stir-frying products. The relative content of n-hexadecanoic acid was the highest among all components in different processed products, accounting for 30.38%-46.47% of the total volatile components. In addition to fatty acids, volatile oils also contained alkanes, esters, alcohols, etc. There were 8 common components with relative content ≥ 1.0% in raw and processed products of Cimicifugae Rhizoma, after stir-frying with honey bran, the relative contents of these 8 components showed an upward trend, but showed a decreasing trend after stir-frying with honey chaff. Conclusion: After processing with Zhang faction method or Jianchang faction method, the composition and relative content of volatile components in Cimicifugae Rhizoma were significantly changed. This study can provide a scientific basis for explaining the processing mechanism of Jiangxi characteristic Cimicifugae Rhizoma decoction pieces.

Biological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cell and hematopoietic stem cell in the co-culture system / 生理学报

The aim of the present study was to obtain the qualified hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HPC) and human umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in vitro in the co-culture system. Cord blood mononuclear cells were separated from umbilical cord blood by Ficoll lymphocyte separation medium, and then CD34HSC was collected by MACS immunomagnetic beads. The selected CD34HSC/HPC and MSC were transferred into culture flask. IMDM culture medium with 15% AB-type cord plasma supplemented with interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-6, thrombopoietin (TPO), stem cell factor (SCF) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt-3L) factors were used as the co-culture system for the amplification of HSC/HPC and MSC. The cellular growth status and proliferation on day 6 and 10 after co-culture were observed by using inverted microscope. The percentage of positive expression of CD34 in HSC/HPC, as well as the percentages of positive expressions of CD105, CD90, CD73, CD45, CD34 and HLA-DR in the 4generation MSC, was tested by flow cytometry. Semisolid colony culture was used to test the HSC/HPC colony forming ability. The osteogenic, chondrogenesis and adipogenic ability of the 4generation MSC were assessed. The karyotype analysis of MSC was conducted by colchicines. The results demonstrated that the HSC/HPC of co-culture group showed higher ability of amplification, CFU-GM and higher CD34percentage compared with the control group. The co-cultured MSC maintained the ability to differentiate into bone cells, fat cells and chondrocytes. And the karyotype stability of MSC remained normal. These results reveal that the appropriate co-culture system for MSC and HSC is developed, and via this co-culture system we could gain both two kinds of these cells. The MSCs under the co-culture system maintain the biological characteristics. The CFU-GM ability, cell counting and the flow cytometry results of HSC/HPC under the co-culture system are conform to the criterion, showing that the biological functions of HSC/HPC are maintained.

Chemical constituents from Crotalaria sessiliflora L / 药学学报

In this study, we isolated and purified the extracts of the whole plant of Crotalaria sessiliflora L. by column chromatographic. Twelve compounds were isolated and identified as followings: sessiliflorin B (1), quercetin (2), kaempferol (3), soyasapogenol B (4), fernenol (5), neoechinulin A (6), ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (7), ethyl caffeate (8), 5,7-dihydroxychromone (9), crotadihydrofuran A (10), butesuperin B (11) and aurantiamide acetate (12). Compound 1 is a new compound, compound 3-12 were isolated from the plant for the first time.

High Killips Class as a Predictor of New-onset Atrial Fibrillation Following Acute Myocardial Infarction: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recent observational studies have shown that patients with higher Killips score (>I) have higher risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), while others drew a neutral conclusion. The ultimate predictive value of high Killips class on NOAF remained obscure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register Databases were searched until February 2015. Of the 3732 initially identified studies, 5 observational studies with 10,053 patients were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The meta-analysis of these studies showed that higher Killips score on admission was associated with higher incidence of NOAF following AMI (odds ratio = 2.29, 95% confidence interval 1.96-2.67, P < 0.00001), while no significant differences exist among individual trials (P = 0.14 and I2 = 43%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Killips class >I was associated with the higher opportunity of developing NOAF following AMI.</p>

A new phenylpropanoid glycoside from Cirsium setosum / 药学学报

To study the chemical constituents of Cirsium setosum (Willd.) MB., 70% ethanol extract of the aerial parts was subjected to column chromatography. One new phenylpropanoid glycoside, sinapyl alcohol 9-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl-4-O-beta-D-glucopyanoside (1) was isolated, along with three known compounds: lycoperodine-1 (2), apigenin-7-O-(6"-(E)-p-coumaroyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (3) and quercetin (4). The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. Compound 2 was obtained from Cirsium genus for the first time, compounds 3 and 4 were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Effects of tanshinone II A on the myocardial hypertrophy signal transduction system protein kinase B in rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of tanshinone II A on the cell signal transduction system protein kinase B (Akt) in rats with hypertrophy of the myocardium induced by partial constriction of the thoracic aorta.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat models of myocardial hypertrophy were established by the thoracic aorta partial constriction method. Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into the sham-operative group, the model group, the valsartan treatment group, and the low-, medium-, and high-dose tanshinone treatment groups. The heart mass index (HMI), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW), and interventricular septal thickness (IVS) were detected by high-frequency ultrasonography. The myocardial fiber diameter (MFD) was detected by HE staining, and the contents of p-Akt and p-Gsk3beta in the myocardium were detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the sham-operative group, the levels of HMI, LVMI, LVPW, IVS, and MFD were increased respectively in the other groups (P<0.05); the contents of p-Akt and p-Gsk3beta were also increased in the other groups. Compared with the model group, the levels of HMI, LVMI, LVPW, IVS, and MFD were decreased respectively in all treatment groups (P<0.05); the contents of p-Akt and p-Gsk3beta were decreased in all treatment groups as well. There was no significant difference, however, among the low-, medium-, and high-dose tanshinone treatment groups and the valsartan treatment group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tanshinone II A can prevent myocardial hypertrophy by its action on the protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway.</p>

Diagnosis and treatment of mediastinal enterogenous cysts in children / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the diagnosis and therapy of mediastinal enterogenous cysts in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 17 cases with mediastinal enterogenous cysts within 19 years in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One case was intramural esophageal cyst and 16 cases were enteric cysts, two among which were complicated with abdominal enteric duplications. Most cases presented with symptoms of respiratory distress. Twelve cases were complicated with vertebral anomalies. Ultrasound of 12 cases and magnetic resonance imaging of 4 cases were helpful in confirming the cystic nature of these lesions. Eight cases had technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy of posterior mediastinum.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Most patients present with symptoms of respiratory distress, complicated with vertebral anomalies. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful in confirming the cystic nature of these lesions. Technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy is the most effective method for differentiation of the disease from other mediastinal cysts.</p>

Study on HPLC fingerprint and quality control of Propolis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study on HPLC fingerprint of Propolis and to control it's quality.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chromatographic fingerprints of seven samples from different producing areas were determined by RP-HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The chromatograms of Propolis from different producing areas were very similar.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The quality of Propolis can be controlled by determination the HPLC fingerprint.</p>